Why lubricate garage door springs?

Author: Prof. Garnet Stracke MD  |  Last update: Monday, June 2, 2025

Lubricating garage door springs is important to keep them from rusting and breaking.

Should you lubricate the springs on a garage door?

While WD-40 has many valuable applications, it is not recommended to use it on your garage door's springs. The best way to keep your garage door springs lasting throughout the years is to lubricate them 1-2 times annually with either white lithium or silicone-based spray.

Do garage door springs need maintenance?

Proper maintenance is key to extending the life of your garage door springs. Here's how to maintain them and know when professional help is needed. Apply Lubrication Regularly: Lubricating your garage door springs helps reduce friction and noise.

Should springs be lubricated?

When used, springs often offer support, suspension and storing & absorbing of energy. With such critical functions, they need to be lubricated properly to perform efficiently.

What is the best lubricant for garage door springs and hinges?

PTFE lubricant reduces friction and wear, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications, from lubricating rollers, hinges, and other higher friction points of the garage door.

How to Lube your Garage door

Is WD-40 ok to use on garage doors?

To make sure that your garage door has a long life, the most effective way to maintain it is by lubricating the moving parts regularly with a trusted product like WD-40®. Using WD-40® products on its rollers, door hinges, locks, and pivot points, you can: Displace extra moisture. Lubricate and loosen stuck parts.

Do garage door hinges need to be lubricated?

It is important to lubricate all moving parts of your garage door every six months including the garage door track. Make sure you're using an all-weather product, since low temperatures can cause lubricants to become thick and viscous.

Is WD-40 good for springs?

The hinges, rollers, and springs of your garage door see a lot of action. They need a lubricant that can stand up to heavy use and provide long-lasting protection. WD-40 doesn't cut it. It attracts dirt and dust, which can cause the tracks to get tacky and put extra strain on the opener.

What are symptoms of bad springs?

Q1: What are the signs of bad springs? A1: The signs of bad springs include squeaking or creaking noises, uneven or excessive bouncing, sagging or lopsidedness, lack of support or cushioning, and increased noise and vibrations.

Do springs ever run dry?

Higher temperatures cause more water to evaporate, leaving less surface water for the plants and animals that rely on springs. During particularly severe droughts, some springs may even dry up. Exotic plant species can outcompete native species, which is especially problematic for species that only live at springs.

What is the life expectancy of a garage spring?

When properly installed, your springs can last approximately 10,000 cycles. One cycle includes both the opening and closing of the door. Technically speaking, your springs should last between 7 to 10 years. However, this depends on how often you use your garage door.

What wears out a garage door opener?

Worn-out components and poor lubrication of the hinges, rollers and track could make an opener ineffective.

Should you lubricate garage door tracks?

While most of the components of your garage door could use a little lubrication now and then, the tracks are a no-no. After cleaning all your garage door's infrastructure, panels and fittings, the parts you should lubricate are: Rollers. Hinges.

How can I make my garage door spring last longer?

How Can You Make Springs Last Longer?
  1. Keep rust and corrosion at bay. Regular lubrication plays a big role in preventing rust and corrosion, but it has to be done with the right lubricant. ...
  2. Keep your garage door properly balanced. ...
  3. Keep road salt out of your garage. ...
  4. Keep up with regularly scheduled maintenance.

Can you over lubricate garage door?

There's no need to use too much of it – a single spray should be enough. Open and close your garage door to see if the garage door hinges are still making noises and apply additional lubrication as needed. If there's still a noise coming from them, you might need to replace your garage door hinges.

How do I tell if I need new springs?

Warning Signs of Worn Springs
  1. Worn, smashed or missing jounce bumpers.
  2. Marks on the suspension stop where jounce bumper impacts.
  3. Excessive tire wear.
  4. Compromised handling or ride quality.
  5. Rust or corrosion on the springs.
  6. Inconsistent spring ramp angles or kinks.
  7. Excessive sagging, leaning or swaying (especially when loaded)

What are the three common suspension noises?

Common suspension-related noises include clunking, squeaking, rattling, or knocking sounds. Try to identify when the noise occurs, such as during acceleration, braking, or when going over bumps.

When should springs be replaced?

Typically coil springs last 60,000 to 90,000 miles before they need to be replaced. However, they can break due to: Corrosion – To do their job, coil springs are constantly expanding and compressing.

What is the best lubricant for garage door springs?

White lithium grease: White lithium grease is a thick, white grease that is resistant to water and dust. It is a good all-purpose lubricant for garage door parts, including hinges, rollers and springs. Silicone spray: Silicone spray is a thin, clear lubricant that is easy to apply.

Where not to spray WD-40?

7 places to never use WD-40 — you'll be surprised
  • Hinges. (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Bike chains. (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Locks. (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic. ...
  • Sensitive electronics. ...
  • Wax polishes and some wax coatings. ...
  • Anything that comes into contact with food.

How often should you lubricate garage door springs?

The tracks, rollers, hinges and springs of your garage doors face significant stress and will need the most frequent lubrication. In general, all moving parts (i.e. garage door springs, rollers, hinges etc.) will need lubrication often – every three months or possibly more with heavy use or in some climates.

Is silicone spray lubricant good for garage doors?

For this reason, we recommend using it in combination with lithium grease if possible. You can apply silicone spray lubricant to the parts of your garage door that are otherwise impossible to reach and lithium grease to all other components that need to be lubricated.

Should garage door opener chain be lubricated?

Avoids Breakdown—It is unexpected that the garage door collapses and can't perform its functionalities. But lubricating the opener chain prevents this and reduces the chances of a breakdown.

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